Rielle Hunter sorry for Edwards affair — as memoir heads to book shelves

Rielle Hunter, the formerly non apologetic mistress of John Edwards — a rising Democratic star who was touted as the next White House sensation until his sordid affair became public — now says her actions were “selfish,” and she wants readers to buy her just-released, updated memoir so she can tell them how many ways she was wrong.

In a confessional to the Huffington Post, Ms. Rielle wrote: “Unfortunately, I was not thinking about anyone but myself. I was selfish. I fell in love with John Edwards and wanted to be with him and that desire trumped everything else.”

Ms. Rielle first penned the book about her affair — which led to a baby and the crushing end to Mr. Edwards‘ political aspirations — for release in July 2012. But sales were dismal. Only 6,000 copies were purchased — and that’s despite the massive public relations and media campaign that came as lead-up to its release, The Daily Mail reported.

But now she has a new version — a newer, more apologetic version — and she’s hoping the additional chapters that reflect her newfound introspective mea culpa over the affair might drive sales. It’s called “In Hindsight, What Really Happened,” and includes her apology to Mr. Edwards‘ children with his then-wife Elizabeth.

She wrote, too, in the Huffington Post: “Owning your past mistakes is no day at the beach but I do believe it is an important endeavor to undertake.”

Mr. Edwards and Ms. Reille took extra flak after it was revealed his wife was receiving treatment for cancer during the time of his affair, in 2004. Ms. Reille said she says feels “horrible” about the affair and wants to set the record completely straight, absent any attempt to shield herself from criticism.

About the Author

Cheryl Chumley is a continuous news writer for The Washington Times. Previously, she was part of the start-up team for The Washington Times’ digital aggregation product, Times247. She’s also a 2008-2009 Robert Novak journalism fellow with The Phillips Foundation. She can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.